COX, CASTLE & NICHOLSON LLP NAMES NEW PARTNER FOR 2010

Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, a leading California real estate law firm, announces the election of Ofer Elitzur to the partnership. Mr. Elitzur is located in the firm’s San Francisco office. His practice focuses on the financing and development of affordable housing projects. This election increases the total number of partners in the firm to 73 effective January 1, 2010.

We are all delighted that Ofer’s dedication and talent have been rewarded by his elevation to Partner, especially notable in challenging economic times," said Mario Camara, senior Member of the firm’s Executive Committee. "We are extremely proud of his efforts and commitment to the firm and look forward to his continuing success.”

Mr. Elitzur assists developers, investors and lenders in a wide variety of real estate transactional matters, with an emphasis on representing for-profit and nonprofit developers in the acquisition, disposition, financing and development of multifamily affordable housing projects, mixed income projects, and mixed-use projects. He specializes in projects involving financial structures that combine diverse public and private funds, including private equity derived from low-income housing tax credits, tax-exempt bond debt, and other federal, state, and local subsidies. He also is a leading expert on California’s property tax exemption for affordable housing. In addition to his affordable housing work, Mr. Elitzur also works with lenders and institutional investors on a broad range of real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, debt financings, and private equity deals.

He is a 1995 graduate of the University of California, Berkeley (History, highest distinction in general scholarship), and earned his Juris Doctor in 2000 from Harvard Law School (cum laude).

In 2009, Mr. Elitzur was named a Northern California Super Lawyer "Rising Star," a peer-review recognition of the top up-and-coming lawyers under 40 featured in San Francisco Magazine and Law and Politics Magazine.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, a California law firm with offices in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Francisco, has one of the largest concentrations of attorneys specializing in representing clients in the real estate, construction, and financial services industries. For more than 50 years, the firm has represented public and privately held businesses, major financial institutions, pension funds, industry entrepreneurs and public agencies in acquiring, developing, redeveloping, financing, leasing, managing and disposing of real estate assets. Cox Castle is located on the web at www.coxcastle.com.